This was a fun chapter to write, a little break from all the seriousness. Enjoy! Reviews much appreciated. I own nothing.

Chapter 16

4 Months Post-Abduction

Newt marveled at the opulence of the castle nestled in the foothills of Denmark. He could see Grindelwald fancying himself a king with these surroundings. He followed Theseus up the grand staircase as Aurors bustled around him.

One of the followers had finally cracked. She'd bargained the latest hideout she knew of with getting to see her family. Unfortunately, it appeared the castle had been abandoned about five days before they'd arrived. Newt wondered if the Ministry had a mole dug deep within their ranks.

They'd finished examining the dungeon, and while Newt found evidence of Tina being down there, the remnants were months old. He'd insisted on checking the upstairs bedrooms.

No signs of her in the pink room, the satin room or the golden room. Newt could tell Theseus grew impatient as they entered the lace room. His brother wasn't used to this level of investigation, examining every single detail. He usually liked the confrontation side of it.

An intricately designed lace bedspread covered the large, four-poster bed. Lace curtains and lacy wallpaper completed the picture of the lace room. As he'd done in the other rooms, Newt pulled back the bedspread, conjuring an image of the last person who'd slept there.

A ghostly image of Queenie formed. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

Newt's drew in a breath. This was the first time he'd found evidence of Tina's sister in any of the hideouts. He flew out of the room and into the last bedroom in this wing, right next door.

The blue room offered the most beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains, but Newt didn't see it. He grabbed the velvet bedspread and flung it off. His wand conjured the image of the woman sleeping in the bed.

Tina.

She slept fitfully, tossing and turning. He could only see above her shoulders; the covers pulled all the way up.

Newt forgot himself, his hand reaching to smooth the worry lines on her forehead away, but it slipped right through the image. Tina's ghostly figure dissolved. Theseus spoke up, and Newt startled, forgetting his brother had followed him into the room.

"Why would they move her from the dungeon up to the most beautiful bedroom in the castle? What's changed?"

"Perhaps Queenie persuaded Grindelwald to treat her better?" Newt offered.

Theseus shook his head slowly. "Not Grindelwald's style, from everything we've seen. I hate to say this, but we've got to consider the possibility that…" He paused, taking a deep breath. "That Tina's been turned."

Newt stared at the empty bed. "No. She wouldn't turn."

"Come on, Newt! Nobody would blame her. She's been tortured, locked in dungeons. It's been going on for months! Experiencing that level of stress for so long would break almost anyone."

"No. Not her. There's got to be another explanation." Newt stubbornly resisted the notion of Tina breaking, although his heart ached for what she'd endured.

Silence reigned around them for a few moments. Then Theseus gave him a sad look and walked out of the room.

Newt, not caring what anyone else thought, toed off his shoes. Then he slipped into the velvet blue bed, his head resting in the same place Tina's had. Her essence surrounded him and he breathed in her slight lingering scent. His eyes closed and he daydreamed about her being in his arms.

Chapter 17

5 Months Post-Abduction

Newt shut the door as he walked into his house. He'd come from a meeting with his editor, who expressed his displeasure at how long it was taking for Newt to write his new book. Newt didn't have a good excuse considering he wasn't allowed to tell anyone about Tina's abduction.

Theseus sat on the sofa, feet up and shoes off. He had the Daily Prophet newspaper open in front of him.

Newt sat down next to him, fidgeting with the buttons on his shirt.

Theseus peeked over the paper. "Anything I can do for you?"

Newt cleared his throat, eyes darting around the room.

"Newt?"

"Do you still have Gran's sapphire engagement ring? I know she gave it to you before she died, but you didn't give to Leta. She much preferred diamonds over sapphires."

Theseus lowered the paper, examining his brother, who refused to look at him. "I have it. Why?"

"I'd like it."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"I'm just as much entitled to it as you are. Please give it to me."

Theseus shook his head. "No. You want it for Tina, and I'm not going to let you torment yourself like that. She may never come back."

Newt pressed his lips together, then abruptly walked over the to stairs. Without turning, he said, "Tina's coming back." Then he walked upstairs.

Before he closed the door to the study, he heard his brother mutter behind him, "I hope so for both your sakes, little brother."

XXXXX

"Wait, you're telling me you want to break into your brother's flat to steal an engagement ring? And you need my help?" Jacob scrutinized him.

"Yes."

"Did you ask him for it yet?"

"Yes, but he refused."

"This isn't Leta's engagement ring, is it?"

Newt shook his head vigorously. "Leta was wearing her engagement ring when Grindelwald killed her."

"So why does your brother have another engagement ring?" Jacob pulled the desk chair out and leaned back in it.

"It was my Gran's." Newt rubbed his eyes and sat down on the bed, picking at the sheet. "She was very special to me, telling me stories when I was a boy about magical creatures all over the world. It started my fascination with fantastic beasts. When Tina comes back, I want to give it to her."

Jacob smiled slowly. "I'm in."

Newt smiled gratefully at Jacob. Fondness for the Muggle touched him. Newt hardly had any close friends, and Jacob stood by his side every time he needed him, both here and in New York. The chance slip-up of exchanging cases had turned into a cherished friendship.

"What's the plan, boss?"

"First, we've got to see an old acquaintance of mine. I'm really hoping he'll let me borrow something of his."

Newt and Jacob traveled to another section of London, ending up at a large townhouse. Newt knocked on the door.

The door opened to a tall, dark-haired man wearing glasses. His face started with a confused expression, but quickly morphed into a smile. "Newt Scamander? Well, hello, old mate! Been a few years. Come in!"

They stepped into a well-lit parlor and were directed to a comfortable brown sofa. Glasses of chilled water appeared in their hands.

Jacob smiled in delight, taking a sip. "Such hospitality!"

"Oh, where are my manners? I know Newt doesn't have any, but I've forgotten mine." The man held out his hand to Jacob. "Fleamont Potter."

Jacob wiped his hand on his shirt, then shook the offered hand. "Jacob Kowalski. Pleasure to know you."

Fleamont settled into the overstuffed chair across from them. "Newt, I never did get to thank you for..." He glanced at Jacob. "That thing you did for me. It was most successful."

Newt cleared his throat, placing his water glass on the side table. "Actually, I'm here to call in that favor."

Fleamont adjusted his glasses. "Oh. And here I thought you came to discuss your new book. Just kidding. What do you need?"

"I need to borrow your invisibility cloak."

Fleamont's eyebrows rose.

Jacob choked on his water. "You have a cloak that can make you invisible?"

The two wizards looked at him.

"Sorry. I couldn't help thinking about that joke of where you would go if you were invisible? The ladies' dressing room!" He giggled, then pointed at Fleamont. "You ever do that?"

"Surely not!" He turned to Newt. "That's not what you plan to use it for, right?"

"No!" Red colored Newt's cheeks.

Fleamont turned back to Jacob. Their eyes locked, then they both burst out laughing. Fleamont wiped tears from his eyes. "Sorry, old chap. I admit it, I did that once when I was fifteen. Don't tell anyone."

Jacob zipped his lips.

Fleamont's tone became more serious. "I don't just lend the cloak out to anyone. The only reason you know about it is because I brought it to you to see if it was made of Demiguise pelts, but of course it wasn't, since it would have been opaque by now. What do you need it for?"

Newt explained about the engagement ring and his brother's refusal to give it to him. Instead of telling him about Tina's abduction, he told him that his brother didn't approve of the girl.

After a moment of thought, Fleamont smacked the chair arm. "Why not? I've always been a sucker for romance. How long do you need it for?"

"Just a few hours," Newt said, smiling.

Fleamont got the cloak, then wished them well as they got on their way.

Once outside Theseus' building, they ducked into the adjacent alley.

"You remember your part?" Newt got the cloak ready to throw over himself.

Jacob nodded, then gasped as Newt disappeared. "Wow, you really are invisible!"

"Let's go," said the disembodied voice.

Newt walked right beside Jacob, careful not to bump anything. As the doorman inside attempted to open the door for Jacob, Jacob grabbed the handle and yanked it right from the older man's hand. He threw it wide, allowing Newt to slip past unseen into the building.

Newt paused a moment, smiling under the cloak at the exchange behind him before he headed to the stairs.

"Oh!" cried the doorman, caught off balance.

"Sorry, didn't see you there." Jacob grabbed his arm to stead him.

The doorman pulled away, brushed off his uniform and straightened his hat. "Can I help you, sir?" It seemed like he tried to hide the frustration in his voice, but failed.

"Friend of mine told me to meet him at this address." Jacob held up a handwritten scrap of paper.

The doorman glared at it. "This address is numerous blocks away. Turn left out the door. Good day, sir."

"Are you sure? I swear this is..."

Jacob's voice faded as Newt discreetly pushed the door into the stairwell. He dared not use the elevator, so he walked up the four floors until he stood at Theseus' door. The lock clicked open easy at Pickett's ministrations, the little tree creature newly awake from his healing hibernation.

The security spell was a bit trickier. Theseus still used the same spell as he had on his childhood bedroom to keep Newt out.

Newt spoke out several passwords. "Leta. Salisbury Steak. Mr. Wiggles." He started to sweat, knowing the alarm alerting the doorman to call the police would go off after a certain amount of incorrect answers.

Finally, exasperated, he said, "Stay out, Newt!"

The door opened.

"Really, brother? You couldn't change it after all these years?" Newt grumbled.

Newt closed the door and pulled off the cloak. He frowned as he looked around the room. No wonder Theseus refused to stay here. There were signs of Leta everywhere. Several framed pictures of them lined the book shelves, including one Newt picked up of them on holiday in Italy. They looked so in love.

He got down to searching for his Gran's engagement ring. The small jewelry box, which turned out to be Leta's, didn't have it. Neither did the box full of Theseus' cuff links. He wondered why his brother needed so many different pairs. He rifled through drawers, blushing profusely when he encountered a drawer full of Leta's bras and panties.

It ended up being at the back of a small drawer of handkerchiefs in the closet. He opened the box and gazed down at the silver ring set with three sparkling blue sapphires. This was what he wanted for Tina, something so special to him, just like her.

He closed the box and slipped it into his pocket.